Cargill Canada names new president

May 29, 2013
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by World Grain Staff

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WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA — Cargill announced on May 28 that Jeff Vassart has been named president of Cargill Canada, as well as the lead of its Canadian AgHorizons business. This announcement comes following Len Penner’s notice of retirement after 38 years of service with Cargill.

“We are very confident that Jeff will thrive in this role,” said Penner. “The experience he brings from years both in and outside of the business will help Cargill better serve Canadian farm customers and food processors.”

Following a career path similar to Penner’s, Vassart enters this new position with 17 years of experience in various roles at Cargill including sales and general management and most recently having returned from an assignment working with Cargill’s grains and oilseed business in Australia.

“This is an exciting time for the Canadian agriculture industry,” said Vassart. “Cargill has been expanding its footprint and creating opportunities for growth and development with building a new canola crush facility in Camrose, Alberta, we’re adding refining capacities to our canola processing plant in Clavet, Saskatchewan, we’re in the process of building a new state-of-the-art flour mill with our joint venture, Horizon Milling G.P., in Guelph, Ontario, and last fall saw the opening of a major farm service centre in Northern Alberta. To me, this is a strong indication of the direction the industry as a whole is moving towards.”

While Penner largely supported the implementation and development of these projects in Canada, he’s looking forward to how the next generation of agriculture will carry them out.

“With a continued focus on sustainable farm practices, creating attractive and emerging workforces and a growing population, I am confident that agriculture will prosper as an innovative and dynamic industry for generations to come,” added Penner.

Vassart grew up on a cattle farm in rural Manitoba near the town of Pilot Mound and attended North Dakota State University and Assiniboine College in Brandon. He currently resides in LaSalle, Manitoba with his wife Lori and their three sons.